Connecting device for electric circuits



Apr. E7, 1923.

S. M. ESLLER CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed Aug. 7, 1919 Patented Apr. 17, ezs.

unrrso STATES PATENT orrics.

SAMUEL M. ESLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO'ESLER ELECTRIC MANU- EACTUEING COMPANY, OF MARION, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA..

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Application filed August 7, 1919. Serial No. 815,927.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. ESLER, a citizen of the United States residing at Chicago, countyof Cook, and state-of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting Devices for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a full, clear, and concise descriptiom reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification. 1

This invention relates to improvements in connecting devices such as are commonly employed when it is desired to attach two or more translatin devices to a single socket or receptacle. t has for its object the production of a simple, durable and safe article at a comparatively low cost.

While the invention is not restricted to any particular type of socket, receptacle or plug, nor to the exact details illustrated and described, still, for the purpose of disclosure commonly known as a. doublesooket plug, with the plug portion formed to fit-into an ordinary Edison basesocket and the socket portions formed to receive devices of similar construction.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same type of device. Figure 3 is a cross section taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross section taken .at line 44 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the central insulating strip and contact of the structure shown in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a similar type but with the socket portions in changed position.

Figure 1 shows a metallic contact piece or shell 10 in the formof the well known Edison base and a metallic contact piece 11 forming a plurality of sockets adapted to receive other bases of similar type. The two contact. shells 10 and 11 are securely connected together by means of rivets 12, as is shown in Figure 4, and form one side of the circuit. The opposite side of the circuit is formed by a metallic contact strip 17 mounted upon an insulating strip 21 by means of rivets 20. At the point'19, the strip 17 is bent in the form of a loop in spaced relation to the end of the strip 21 for providing a yieldmg engagement with the center terminal of a lamp socket. An

insulating cover 13 of fibre or other suitable material extends beyond the ends of the screw-shell 11 for providing the necessary protection in the handling of the device, the cover being held inposition by glue or other suitable means at certain overlappingpoints, as at 14.- and-15. The diverging end por tions 18 of the strip 17 are adapted to press against the center contacts of bases screwed into the socket member 11, as will be readily understood.

As is best shown in Figure 5, the strip 21 is notched on its side-edges to enable it to have snug engagementwith the screwshell .10, as is shown in Figure 4, serving thus to hold the strip 17 in suitable spaced relation with respect to the shells 10 and 11. The strip 21 is braced in position by engagement at its end with the side of the shell 11 and by engagement between shoulders 23 of .the strip and the side portions of the opening through which the strip extends into the shell 11. Figure l is .a view in elevation, of'a type In the'construction shown in Figure 6, in whichparts corresponding with those already desoribed are indicated by the same. reference characters but with the addition of an exponent a, the socket or shell member 10 is provided with arms=25 by which connection is efi'ected with the shell members 11 by the use of rivets 26, such shell [members 11 being secured in only slightly diverging. position. The members 11* are braced in position by engagement of the end of the strip 21 with the adjacent edge portions of such members, as indicated at 27 in said Figure 6. -The opposite edge portions of the members 11 are held in posi- While for the purpose of simplicity of description, I have shown only the type known as the double socket plug, my 1nvention is not limited to such type. There may be two or more sockets in connection with the plug part and they may be adapted for use wlth Edison bases or other types of connecting devices, or a combination of any of them. The plug may be in the form therewith, being in spaced relation to the screw-shell about the greater portion of the inner face thereof, a second screw-shell connected electrically with said first named screw-shell, and electrically connected contacts supported by said strip in operative relation to said screw-shells and insulated from said screw-shells by said strip.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screw-shell, a strip of in sulating material held in position in said screw-shell by engagement at its side edges therewith, being in spaced relation to the screw-shell about the greater portion of the inner face thereof, additional screw-shell means connected electrically with said first named screw-shell and providing threaded sockets on opposite faces of said strip, and electrically connected contacts supported by said strip in operative relation to said screwshells and insulated from said screw-shells by said strip.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a double-ended screw-shell having an opening through its side wall, a second screw-shell secured thereto about said opening, a strip of insulating material extending through said opening and held in position in said second screw-shell by engagement at its sides therewith, being in spaced relation thereto about the greater portion of the inner face thereof, a contact supported by said strip in operative relation to said second screw-shell, two additional contacts supported by said strip in operative relation to the two sockets afforded by said double-ended screw-shell,

and electrlcal connections between said three contacts also supported by said strip.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a double-ended screw-shell having an opening through its side wall, a second screw-shell secured thereon about said opening, a strip of insulating material tacts supported .by said strip in operative relation to the three screw-shells and insulated therefrom by said strip.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a screw-shell, a relatively thin strip of insulating material secured in said screw-shell by engagement at its side edges therewith, and a contact member held by said strip in spaced position with respect to said screw-shell, bein in the form of a strip of metal bent upon itself and secured to said end to form an electric contact.

6. A connecting device of the class described comprising in combination ascrew shell, a strip of insulating material mounted in position in said screw shell by engagement at its side edges with the screw-threads of said shell; said strip being in spaced relation to the screw shell about the greater portion of the inner face thereof, a second screw shell connected electrically with said first named screw shell; and electrically connected contact means mounted over the end and on the sides of said strip in operative relation to said screw shell and insulated therefrom by said strip.

7. A connecting device of the class described comprising in combination a metallic contact shell and metallic shell member providing a plurality of light sockets directly connected to one end of said shell and forming the sole supporting frame for said device, an insulating member mounted in said contact shell, spaced therefrom in part, and extending to the free end thereof, and a single metallic member mounted over the extending end and along the side of saidinsulating member, extending into such shell member and constituting center contacts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL M. ES'LER. Witnesses: CHAS. J. BRAKER,

DOROTIIEA BRAKER. 

